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September 13, 1940
The
Italian 10th Army, consisting of six infantry
divisions and 200 tanks, attacks from Libya into
Egypt against the British 4th Indian Division and
the 7th Armored Brigade. The Italians drive 60
miles against token resistance, then halt and set up fortified camps near Sid Barrani.
December 9, 1940 - February 7, 1941
(Operation Compass)
A British
five day raid develops into a major offensive which pushes the
Italians back 500
miles, taking 130,000 prisoners and destroying the
Italian 10th Army. The British stop at El Agheila.
Orders of Battle and Tables of Organization
for Operation Compass
February 12, 1941
Rommel and
the Germans begin to arrive in Libya. The 5th
Light Division is completely arrived by March 11.
The 15th Panzer is available in May.
April, 1941 (Operation Sonnenblume)
Rommel
attacks the British and drives them back 500 miles.
Tobruk is isolated but does not fall as the tough
Australians refuse to yield. German attempts to
take Tobruk on April 11 and April 30 are both
repulsed.
Orders of Battle and Tables of Organization
for Operation Sonnenblume
May 15, 1941 (Operation Brevity)
The Britsh counterattack in an
attempt to relieve the isolated garrison at Tobruk.
Sollum, Capuzza, and the Haffaya Pass are captured
but the offensive fails to reach Tobruk.
May 16, 1941
Rommell counter attacks and takes Sollum and Capuzza.
May 17, 1941 (Operation Skorpion)
Rommel launches an offensive to retake Halfaya Pass.
June 15, 1941 (Operation Battleaxe)
The British counterattack in another attempt to
relieve Tobruk. The attack is stopped cold.
November, 1941 (Operation Crusader)
In a major
offensive, the newly created British 8th Army pushes
Rommel all the way back to his starting point at
Mersa el Braga. Tobruk is relieved after a seige of
242 days. The Italians lose half their army and the
Germans lose a quarter of theirs.
January 21, 1942
The Germans refit
and Rommel attacks again, driving the British way
back. Tobruk falls on June 21 with a loss of 35,000
prisoners. Rommel is promoted to Field Marshal and
advances toward Cairo and the Suez canal with the
British making a last stand at El Alamein.
July 1, 1942 (1st Battle of El Alamein)
Rommel attacks the British
line at El Alamein but the Brits hold.
September, 1942 (Battle of Alam Halfa)
Rommel attempts to
flank the British position but is halted by the
Brits again under their new commander, Montgomery.
October 24, 1942 (Battle of El Alamein)
Montgomery
launches a major assault against the remnants of the
Afrika Korps. The Germans are pushed back for
good.
November
8, 1942 (Torch Landings)
American and
British forces land in French North Africa and
eventually help drive the Axis completely out of
North Africa. The last of the Axis surrender
on May 13, 1943 |
